Zambia Football Association president Kalusha Bwalya has claimed that it is too early for Luis Figo to challenge for the FIFA presidency.

The former Real Madrid winger is one of three candidates who will take on Sepp Blatter on May 29, alongside Dutch football federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.

Bwalya told BBC Sport: "I'd have loved to see Figo go into the Portuguese football association, learn the ropes then come out.

"There are other former footballers, like Davor Suker, who's heading an association in Europe [Croatia]. It's the logical way but he [Figo] has decided to go for the big position.

"It's going to be very difficult in my opinion. From where we're standing, it would have been better for [Figo] to start at association level to know the challenges. He would have been better prepared."

Blatter was elected in 1998, succeeding Joao Havelange, and retained the presidency in 2002, 2007 and 2011.